Avalon Ups the Ante for 2018

Avalon Waterways will continue to raise the bar on its product offerings during 2018, with a new ship and itineraries in Asia, as well as the expansion of Active Discovery cruises from the Danube to the Rhine.

“On the heels of unveiling two new 36-guest Suite Ships on the Irrawaddy and Mekong Rivers in two years, Avalon Waterways has announced plans to cruise farther into the Far East by increasing its fleet and vacation portfolio with another Suite Ship for the Mekong River—the Avalon Saigon—and new ways to see and explore Southeast Asia,” said Terri Burke, managing director Avalon Waterways, of which Avalon is a unit.

The Avalon Saigon is scheduled to enter service in September 2018 and will sail on new 13-day “Fascinating Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong River” itineraries from Siem Reap to Ho Chi Minh City.

Another new itinerary, the 18-day “Heart of Cambodia & Vietnam,” will debut in January, sailing from Siem Reap to Hanoi. Following the Mekong River voyage, guests will fly to Hanoi for a two-day cruise of Ha Long Bay.

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Active Discovery Cruises

Following on the heels of the successful launch of “Active Discovery on the Danube” cruises, Avalon is expanding the program with new nine-day “Active Discovery on the Rhine” itineraries operating between Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

“The ‘Active Discovery on the Rhine’ cruises will introduce travelers to the people and places of Europe in the most active, engaged and fun ways imaginable,” said Burke. “They can bike along the Rhine River, take a running tour of Amsterdam or hike on incredible trails. These are cruises focused on engaging in the unfamiliar.”

While physical activity is an integral component of these itineraries, Burke noted that cultural immersion is an equally important part of the mix: “Travelers can immerse themselves in history and culture in each port with excursions to historic castles, a culinary tour or painting class.”

New Special Interest Itineraries

Avalon will unveil an 11-day “Legendary Danube Author Cruise” aboard the Avalon Illumination on June 5 from Prague to Budapest featuring Diana Gabaldon, godmother of Avalon Tapestry II and author of the best-selling “Outlander” novels, which are now a STARZ television series.

The line is also debuting an eight-day “Tulip Time Cruise for Garden Enthusiasts” on April 13 roundtrip from Amsterdam. Highlights will include visits to the gardens of Keukenof near Lisse in Holland, and an excursion in Amsterdam exploring the “hidden gardens in the heart of the city,” Burke said.

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Top-Selling Cruises

“Our No. 1 itinerary continues to be the eight-day 'Romantic Rhine' between Amsterdam and Basel – but our 2017 ‘Festive Time’ [Christmas] cruises have been a home-run,” Burke said. “In fact, as a result of their popularity, we are tripling ‘Festive’ itineraries and departures for 2018.”

She also noted that Avalon’s Moselle itineraries, which explore the wine region of Germany and France, have also become increasingly popular this year: “Looking beyond Europe, the Mekong River continues to be our No. 1-selling Southeast Asia itinerary. It’s why we are adding another Suite Ship to this area in 2018.”

Healthy Dining

In 2016, Avalon began testing menu items designed by Vienna-based chefs Karl and Leo Wrenkh, who are known for their creative interpretations of vegetarian and vegan dishes, to launch the “Avalon Fresh” program.

“We rolled out the program fleetwide in 2017 and so far the feedback has been great,” Burke said. “A vast majority of today’s travelers are looking for a vacation experience that caters to their lifestyle and their interests. And food plays a starring role.”

Commitment to Agents

“Travel Agents remain our No. 1 distribution channel and No. 1 focus,” Burke said. “Without their reach and support, river cruising would not be the tremendously successful travel category that it is today.”

Avalon offers agents a robust portfolio of programs and tools to help them boost their sales, including Avalon Waterways Specialist University, integrated marketing tools and marketing campaigns, webinars and fam trips.

Burke suggested that agents interested in capturing a larger share of Avalon business should focus on three words: focus, learn and market.

“Those three words are the key to increasing your sales,” she said. “By focusing on one river cruise partner—Avalon—you accomplish the next two aspects. You learn and market more effectively by concentrating your efforts. Being a specialist versus a generalist will help you win clients and close sales. It’s a simple winning formula.”

Avalon Executive Leadership 

In preparation for the pending retirement of Avalon Waterways Managing Director Patrick Clark, Burke was named as the new managing director late last year, as well as Pam Hoffee as chief product and operations officer. Burke is charged with overseeing the line’s global sales, marketing and promotional efforts, and Hoffee with worldwide operations.

Nonetheless, Burke stressed that Clark, who now holds the title of chairman, still plays a key role in the company.

“It might be worth noting that Patrick Clark is still very much a part of Avalon Waterways as our chairman. He has not yet entered retirement but will soon,” she said. “And, while he will be missed, Avalon Waterways’ focus on the guest experiences—specifically, offering our guests what they’re looking for on vacation—will continue to drive who we are and our evolution.”